‘Unique and rare’ Henry Moore sculpture discovered on family’s mantelpiece

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A “unique and rare” sculpture by pioneering British artist Henry Moore has been discovered after sitting on a family’s mantelpiece for years. The abstract depiction of two figures made from lead, called Mother And Child, was authenticated by Dreweatts auctioneers alongside experts from The Henry Moore Foundation, who traced it back to a sketch from 1939. She said: “It has been such a fascinating journey working with this rare Henry Moore sculpture. “Dreweatts is honoured to bring this sculpture to the market for the very first time, presenting an opportunity to purchase a unique and rare sculpture by one of the most important British artists of the 20th century.” Moore experimented with lead while working with rope and wire to create his famous stringed sculptures, and Mother And Child is believed to have been a preliminary design for a stringed piece.